Cruel (The Buck Boys Heroes 2)

He stands stoic in my path in the doorway.

I look up to meet his gaze with mine.

His jaw is less tensed, his brow not furrowed anymore. “Good.”

“After lunch, we’ll get back to the interview?” I ask.

“Drew will take you home after lunch. I have meetings all afternoon.”

“But,” I begin to argue that at this rate, it will take me months to finish the article. I stop myself, though, because a snail’s pace may just be what I need to dive into the innermost corners of Mr. Bane’s mind and his heart so I can deliver the article worthy of a byline in New York Viewpoint.

“But?” he repeats softly.

“But, I’d prefer to walk,” I blurt out as an excuse. “I need to run a few errands.”

His hand moves toward my chin, but he pulls it back abruptly. “Stay out of alleys, Juliet. I won’t be there to save you.”

I tilt my chin up as a beacon, but his hand falls to his side. “I can save myself.”

“I’m sure you can,” he says before he steps to the side to give me room to pass by.

I had no idea lunch would be a threesome.

Nigel appeared at the table just as I was about to take a seat. I hadn’t heard him come back to the penthouse, but that’s likely because I was tucked away in my office, searching Google for anything it could tell me about Kavan Bane.

The man himself went back into his office after I told him I’d choose the menu.

Now, we’re seated at the dining room table, eating bowls of spiced carrot soup as an appetizer.

There are Brie and fig salads to come and fresh fruit tarts.

I’ll be skipping dinner tonight.

“What made you want to pursue a career in journalism, Juliet?”

I look toward Nigel since he asked the question. “I crave information. I find people fascinating.”

Nigel’s gaze doesn’t falter. “My mother was a journalist.”

“For a magazine?” I ask.

“Newspaper,” he answers swiftly. “She started as a reporter but worked her way up to senior editor.”

“Impressive.” I toss him a smile. “Did you ever think about following in her footsteps?”

“Me?” he says with an exaggerated poke in his chest with his finger. “That’s not my forte.”

When Nara arrives with three plates heavily loaded with fresh salad greens, figs, cheese, and a delicious smelling dressing, the conversation stalls.

I thank her, as does Nigel, when she clears the soup bowls.

I slide my fork around my plate, tugging on a piece of lettuce with the tines. “What is your forte, Nigel? Besides, your job with Bane Enterprises.”

He sets his fork down. “I’m not sure I follow, Juliet.”

I steal a glance at Kavan to find him watching the two of us in silence. Redirecting my attention back to Nigel, I tap the top of his hand with mine. “When you’re not working at Bane, what do you like to do? What are you really good at?”

His cheeks flood with pink. “It’s embarrassing.”

“Tell me.” I lower my voice. “If I had to guess, I think it must be related to birds.”

That’s enough to bring a smile back to his face. “I bird watch in Central Park.”

“You do?” Kavan’s voice breaks into our conversation.

Nigel looks at him. “As often as my schedule allows.”

“That’s fascinating.” I lean back in my chair. “Are there many different birds to see there?”

“So many.” His face lights up. “I sort them all by color. I have an entire binder filled with pictures, dates, facts…all of it is there.”

Kavan watches Nigel carefully. I can tell that he had no idea that his right-hand man was a birdwatcher.

Nigel reaches to squeeze my hand. “How did you know it was related to birds, Juliet? I haven’t mentioned it to you.”

I tilt my chin to the right. “The day we met you were wearing a peacock pin on your lapel. Today, it’s a robin.”

His gaze drops to the pin, as does Kavan’s.

Nigel pats his hand over the pin. “They belonged to my wife. When she died, I promised her I’d keep bird watching for the both of us. It helps me feel as though she’s still with me.”

I reach forward to straighten the pin for him. “I think that bird watching is definitely your forte.”

With tears welling in his eyes, he nods. “I’d agree.”

I look toward Kavan to find his gaze locked on the robin pin.

He’s been living in a hell of his own making for so long that he didn’t see that the man who views him as a son was trying to create his own slice of heaven on earth.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Juliet

I asked Drew to drop me off three blocks from my apartment, so I could walk off at least a few of the calories I consumed at lunch.

As an extra special treat just for me, Nara added a small bowl of honey ice cream next to my fruit tart.